Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, March 24, and will conclude on Easter, March 31. Liturgical celebrations will take place throughout the week at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 1007 Superior Ave., in downtown Cleveland.
The liturgies listed below will be livestreamed on the diocesan website.
Bishop Edward Malesic will celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Palm Sunday, March 24. This Mass commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Palms will be distributed and blessed during the liturgy. (Other Masses on Palm Sunday will be at 8 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., but these liturgies will not be livestreamed.)
The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. At this Mass, Bishop Malesic will bless the oil of the catechumens and the oil of the sick as well as consecrating the oil of the sacred chrism. These holy oils are used throughout the diocese during the coming year in the celebration of the sacraments. Bishop Malesic will be the celebrant and homilist at this liturgy, which is attended by many priests from the diocese and includes the renewal of priestly vows.
The sacred triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. on Holy Thursday, March 28. Bishop Malesic will be the celebrant and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost will be the homilist. This Mass commemorates the Last Supper, during which Christ instituted the sacrament of the holy Eucharist, the sacrament of holy orders (priesthood) and gave us his commandment to love one another. During the liturgy, the bishop will wash the feet of some faithful in remembrance of Jesus washing the feet of his apostles at the Last Supper.
The cathedral will remain open until 11 p.m. for prayer and adoration. Night Prayer will be at 10:45 p.m.
Bishop Malesic will be the celebrant and homilist for the Passion of the Lord at 3 p.m. on Good Friday, March 29. This solemn liturgy commemorates the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. The traditional adoration of the cross will take place during the liturgy. The cathedral will be open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Easter Vigil will be celebrated at 8:30 p.m. on Holy Saturday, March 30. This liturgy consists of four components: the service of light, liturgy of the Word, liturgy of baptism and liturgy of the Eucharist. Bishop Malesic will be the celebrant and homilist.
After a reflective and intense period of prayer during Lent, the elect – those who have not been baptized – and the candidates – those who will make a profession of faith in the Catholic Church and will receive the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist – will become full members of the Catholic Church. These sacraments of initiation also are celebrated at parishes throughout the diocese on that night. The cathedral will be open 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (after the Easter Vigil).
Bishop Malesic also will be the celebrant and homilist at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Easter, March 31, to commemorate Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. This liturgy will be livestreamed. (Other Masses on Easter – which will not be livestreamed – will be at 8 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.) Reservations are not needed for Easter Mass at the cathedral. There will be no 5:30 p.m. Mass on Easter. The cathedral will be open 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In addition to these liturgies, Stations of the Cross will be livestreamed at 5:15 p.m. March 22. They also will be prayed at noon on Good Friday, March 29.
Confessions during Holy Week will be available in the cathedral 6:30-7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 25-28; 7:45-11:30 a.m., 1-2 p.m. and 4:20-5 p.m. March 29; and 7:45-11 a.m. March 30. Extra confessors are available at midday.
Weekday Mass will be celebrated at 7:15 a.m. and noon except on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The daily noon Mass is livestreamed.
The traditional blessing of the food will take place at 11:15 a.m. on Holy Saturday, March 30.
The normal daily Mass schedule will resume at 7:15 a.m. and noon (livestreamed) on Easter Monday, April 1. The normal weekday confession schedule, 6:30-7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. also resumes on April 1.
Normal cathedral hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sundays.
The cathedral rectory office will be closed on Good Friday and April 1. Normal rectory office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Diocese of Cleveland also broadcasts a TV Mass for those unable to attend Mass at a parish because of short-term or long-term health reasons. The broadcast is at 10 a.m. Sundays on WUAB Channel 43 (the CW). Bishop Malesic will be the celebrant for the (taped) Mass on Easter, March 31. Cox Cable subscribers can view the Mass at 11:30 a.m. Sundays on Channel 45. In addition, two radio stations, WINT 1330 AM airs Mass each week at 9 a.m. on Sunday and WCCR 1260 AM The Rock, airs Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays.